'Wasting money isn't progressive'

A progressive council spends its money wisely on schemes and projects that are going to benefit the community.

It is unclear whether the stated "overspend" of £3 million on the Cityclean rubbish and recycling service really generates "improvements" for our residents.

The rate of recycling in our city remains below 30 per cent, which is well below the recycling achieved by most other councils in the South of England.

As for the i360, the "doughnut on a stick" as Labour Councillor Dan Yates describes it, the huge financial losses from this structure are a big drain on the council's resources.

The £40 million i360 was supported by the Green Party councillors with the backing of many Tory councillors. It is now making huge losses.

Money was also wasted by this council through the closure of lucrative parking spaces on Brighton seafront.

Furthermore, the benefits of "in-sourcing" the council's housing repairs service are also unclear. Time will tell whether the £10 million spent on this will actually help council tenants or whether this is just a dogmatic policy.

Having said this, the Tory government has failed to properly resource our public services for many years and those are now creaking a little under the strain.

And the council tax system is unfair and unjust because the charges on million pound homes are the much the same as for those of average value.

The council tax system is in desperate need of reform, with more bands to make it more progressive, as the Liberal Democrats have proposed at recent general elections.

In the meantime, this council should ensure that our council tax is spent wisely to the benefit of the whole community and ensuring that our public health and public housing are given priority.

There is nothing at all progressive about wasting public money on novelty towers and traffic schemes that don't actually work properly when this money should be spent on projects that benefit the community.

Rob Heale

Chatham Place

Brighton